Shower stall

ABSTRACT

The shower stall is for use with a water source and includes an enclosure, a water distribution manifold, and a water pipe. The enclosure defines a shower space and includes a front entrance wall with a frontal access opening and a ceiling, the ceiling having a plurality of apertures therethrough. The water distribution manifold is attached to the ceiling of the enclosure and is configured to completely enclose the portion of the ceiling having the plurality of apertures therethrough. The water pipe is connected between the external water source and the water distribution manifold and is used for carrying water from the external water source to the water distribution manifold. Water that is carried from the external water source to the water distribution manifold is delivered into the shower space through the apertures in the ceiling of the enclosure, thus producing a “rain effect” for the user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/755,514 filed Jan. 12, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to sanitary devices, and more specifically to a shower stall configured to provide a “rain effect” distribution of water.

2. Description of the Related Art

Showering is something that almost everyone does on a daily basis. Traditionally, showering apparatuses include shower stalls that may stand alone or may be built-in to a surrounding dwelling. Shower stalls may also be coupled with bathtubs for added function. In order to distribute water onto the user, a shower head is usually connected at an elevated portion of the shower apparatus and receives water from an external water source to provide a constant stream of water for the user. While shower heads have advanced to the point that they come in many shapes and sizes and provide a variety of water distribution options (misting flow, pulsating flow, massage flow, etc.), shower heads still do not provide an ideal showering experience, since they do not distribute water over a large enough area of the shower stall, especially for elderly and handicapped users.

There is a need for a shower stall that will provide users with a uniform flow of water that may be easily distributed over a larger area of the shower space than a traditional shower head. It is desirable that this water distribution be provided in a way as to simulate rain falling from the sky. Thus, a shower stall solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The shower stall is for use with an external hot and cold water source and includes an enclosure, a water distribution manifold, and a water pipe. The enclosure defines a shower space and has a front entrance wall with a frontal access opening, two sidewalls, a rear wall, a floor, and a ceiling, with the ceiling having a plurality of apertures therethrough. The floor is also provided with a drainage aperture therethrough. The water distribution manifold is attached to the ceiling of the enclosure and is configured to completely enclose the portion of the ceiling having the plurality of apertures therethrough. The water pipe is connected between the external water source and the water distribution manifold and is used for carrying water from the external water source to the water distribution manifold.

The shower stall may further include a water valve that is disposed between the external water source and the water pipe for receiving and directing the flow of water from the external water source. Also, one or more water control knobs may be connected to the water valve and adapted for controlling the temperature and the flow of water from the external water source.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shower stall according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a shower stall according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a shower stall according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 3.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a shower stall, designated generally as 10 in the drawings, for use with an external hot and cold water source.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, shower stall 10 is shown including an enclosure that defines a shower space, the enclosure having a front entrance wall 12 with a frontal access opening 14, opposing sidewalls 16, a rear wall 34, a floor 18, and a ceiling 20. Ceiling 20 is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 24 therethrough and floor 18 is provided with drainage aperture 30. Frontal access opening 14 is configured to allow a user to easily enter shower stall 10, and the dimension of the enclosure and frontal access opening 14 may be varied in order to provide differently sized shower spaces, including a shower stall 10 that includes a bathtub portion at the lower end.

Shower stall 10 is further provided with water distribution manifold 22 attached to ceiling 20 of the enclosure. Water distribution manifold 22 is configured to completely enclose the portion of ceiling 20 having the plurality of apertures 24 therethrough. Water pipe 26 is in connection with the external water source and is used to carry water from the external water source to water distribution manifold 22. Water that is carried from the external water source to water distribution manifold 22 is filtered into the shower space through apertures 24 in ceiling 20 of the enclosure, thus producing a “rain effect” for the user. Water distribution manifold 22 is configured in a shallow manner so that the water pressure of the water being delivered from water pipe 26 allows it to be evenly distributed throughout the entirety of water distribution manifold 22, resulting in a even and constant flow of water into the shower space. Apertures 24 may be arranged in any desired pattern and may cover any or all of ceiling 20, depending on the desires of the user.

In a preferred embodiment, shower stall 10 is also provided with a water valve 28 and a pair of water control knobs 32. Water valve 28 is disposed between the external water source and water pipe 26 for receiving and directing the flow of water from the external water source. Water control knobs 32 are connected to water valve 28 and are adapted for controlling the temperature and the flow of water from the external water source. The water control knobs 32 are disposed within the enclosure of shower stall 10. Water control knobs 32 include a hot water control knob 32 for controlling the flow of hot water from the external water source and a cold water control knob 32 for controlling the flow of cold water from the external water source.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an alternative embodiment of shower stall 10, which varies from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 only in the extent of the ceiling surface area covered by manifold 22 and having apertures 24 defined therethrough. The embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 only provides for a water shower within the half of the shower adjacent valves 32, while the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 provides for a water shower throughout substantially all of the area of the shower stall 10.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A shower stall for use with an external hot and cold water source, comprising: an enclosure defining a shower space, the enclosure having a front entrance wall having a frontal access opening defined therein, opposing sidewalls, a rear wall, a floor, and a ceiling, the ceiling having a plurality of apertures defined therethrough; a water distribution manifold attached to the ceiling of the enclosure, the water distribution manifold completely enclosing a portion of the ceiling having the plurality of apertures defined therethrough; and a water pipe connected to the water manifold for carrying water from the external hot and cold water source to the water distribution manifold.
 2. The shower stall according to claim 1, further comprising a water valve disposed between the external hot and cold water source and said water pipe for receiving and directing the flow of water from the external hot and cold water source.
 3. The shower stall according to claim 2, further comprising at least one water control knob connected to the water valve for controlling temperature flow of the water from the external hot and cold water source, the at least one knob being disposed within the enclosure.
 4. The shower stall according to claim 3, wherein the at least one knob includes a hot water control knob for controlling the flow of hot water from the external hot and cold water source.
 5. The shower stall according to claim 3, wherein the at least one knob includes a cold water control knob for controlling the flow of cold water from the external hot and cold water source.
 6. The shower stall according to claim 1, further comprising a drainage outlet disposed in the floor of said enclosure.
 7. A shower stall for use with an external hot and cold water source, comprising: an enclosure defining a shower space, the enclosure having a front entrance wall having a frontal access opening defined therein, opposing sidewalls, a rear wall, a floor, and a ceiling, the ceiling having a plurality of apertures defined therethrough; a water distribution manifold attached to the ceiling of the enclosure, the water distribution manifold completely enclosing a portion of the ceiling having the plurality of apertures defined therethrough; a water pipe connected to the manifold for carrying water from the external hot and cold water source to the water distribution manifold; and a water valve disposed between the external hot and cold water source and the water pipe for receiving and directing the flow of water from the external hot and cold water source.
 8. The shower stall according to claim 7, further comprising at least one water control knob connected to the water valve for controlling temperature and flow of the water from the external hot and cold water source, the at least one knob being disposed within said enclosure.
 9. The shower stall according to claim 8, wherein the at least one knob includes a hot water control knob for controlling the flow of hot water from the external hot and cold water source.
 10. The shower stall according to claim 8, wherein the at least one knob includes a cold water control knob for controlling the flow of cold water from the external hot and cold water source.
 11. The shower stall according to claim 7, further comprising a drainage outlet disposed in the floor of said enclosure.
 12. A shower stall for use with an external hot and cold water source, comprising: an enclosure defining a shower space, the enclosure having a front entrance wall having a frontal access opening defined therein, opposing sidewalls, a rear wall, a floor, and a ceiling, the ceiling having a plurality of apertures defined therethrough, the floor having a drainage outlet disposed therein; a water distribution manifold attached to the ceiling of the enclosure, the water distribution manifold completely enclosing a portion of the ceiling having the plurality of apertures defined therethrough; a water pipe connected to the manifold for carrying water from the external hot and cold water source to the water distribution manifold; a water valve disposed between the external hot and cold water source and the water pipe for receiving and directing the flow of water from the external hot and cold water source; and at least one water control knob connected to the water valve for controlling the temperature and the flow of water from the external hot and cold water source, the at least one knob being disposed within the enclosure.
 13. The shower stall according to claim 12, wherein the at least one knob includes a hot water control knob for controlling the flow of hot water from the external hot and cold water source.
 14. The shower stall according to claim 12, wherein the at least one knob includes a cold water control knob for controlling the flow of cold water from the external hot and cold water source. 